The message each purple ribbon sends is a message of equality,
responsibility, and values. The message behind the message is one of civil
rights, conscience and love.

JOIN IN SENDING
THE MESSAGE OF
EQUAL PARENTS' WEEK

The Children's Rights Council, as International Sponsor, invites family members
throughout the world to unite their voices in making the message of Equal
Parents' Week, "The Best Parent Is Both Parents" an international mandate.

A Moment In Our Hearts, A Moment Of SolidarityINTERNATIONAL PUBLIC & HOME CANDLELIGHT VIGILS Thursday, September 29, 2005 7:30 pm

WHAT IS EQUAL PARENTS' WEEK?

Equal Parents' Week is a movement which sends the message that parental
rights and responsibilities must be shared equally by both parents. The
purple ribbon is the symbol which sends this message. People are urged
to send this message by wearing purple ribbons and tying them everywhere
they can be seen.

Equal Parents' Week is a civil rights movement. More than that, it is
a human rights movement. Equal Parents' Week advocates that equality is
not just a legal concept. The right of both parents to function as a parent,
the right of children to be raised and nurtured by both parents, and the
right of familes to exist and function as a family, are rights inherent
and inalienable to all families. The Equal Parents' Week mandate for equal
parent status is a mandate for the time it takes to love, nurture, and
teach our children our values the only way we can...a mandate for the ability
to be a parent...and a mandate for justice.

The Children's Rights Council encourages everyone to support National Parents Day in recognition of its important mission to strengthen the role parents play in children's lives and advocating family values, objectives shared by the focus of Equal Parents' Week.

"Parents' Day serves as a catalyst for creating awareness,
programs, events and activities to support parents, strengthen families
and build communities...to make [parents] aware of the important role that
they play in not only raising their children, but the future leaders of
our nation." Belinda Rollins President Parenting Coalition International

We all need to care about what happens to parents and children when they
walk into court We as a society all share the responsibility for creating
a system which makes the principle "the best parent is both parents" a
reality by embracing the civil rights that protect unmarried parents and
their children individually, as well as their right to exist and function
as a family. It is long overdue that we recognize that "the best interests
of children" cannot be met unless we maximize the ability of both parents
to raise and nurture their children and afford children the maximum parenting
effort and involvement each parent is willing and able to contribute in
raising their children.

Equality imputes values: civil rights, conscience, and responsibility.
We all have a responsibility to keep families together by promoting a system
that values and protects both parents Families will be in crisis until
the unconditional love and sacrifice, the need for both parents and for
families to continue to function as families, individual self-respect and
respect among all family members, are lived by each of us, and promoted
and protected by our laws and by every component of our local and national
governments and justice systems.

NOTE TO ALL ORGANIZATIONS: All organizations are required to
endorse the "Joint Statement by Participants in Equal Parents' Week" (see
link on left) which sets forth fundamental principles of Equal Parents'
Week, including the principles of equal sharing of parental rights and
responsibilities by both parents and joint custody.

INTERNATIONAL EVENT OF SOLIDARITY
TO SEND OUR MESSAGE

A Moment in our Hearts, A Moment of Solidarity.

PUBLIC CANDLELIGHT VIGILS

As an international event, we are asking all organizations to join in "A
Moment in our Hearts, A Moment of Solidarity" by holding as many
public candelight vigils as possible throughout the world.

All candelight vigils will be held on the same date and at the same
time: Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 7:30 p.m

Please contact the International Coordinator to let us know you will be holding
a public candlelight vigil. Please use the link to the left (Sign Up: Candlelight Vigils, Purple Ribbon Activities, Etc.) to sign up via email . Please be sure to provide ALL the information requested in the link when signing up in order for your candelight vigil to be counted.

HOME VIGILS

We are urging all people who cannot attend a public candlelight vigil or who
do not have one taking place near them to share in "A Moment in our
Hearts, A Moment of Solidarity" by holding their own "Home
Vigil" and light a candle in their home for at least 15 minutes, on Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 7:30 pm, the same date and time as the public candelight vigils will be taking place. A Home Vigil can be held by anyone, it can be held by a single person living alone, and include as few or as many people as you wish, so please invite as many of your family and friends as you like! Encourage your family and friends to participate in your Home Vigil, or to get involved by holding their own Home Vigil.

Please contact the International Coordinator to let us know if you will be holding a Home Vigil, and use the link to the left to sign up. Please be sure to provide ALL the information requested in the link when signing up in order for your Home Vigil to be counted.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Tie as many purple ribbons as you can everywhere they can be seenSpread the word to your friends and families to tie purple ribbons and hold candlelight vigils to send this messageOrganize a public candlight vigil or hold your own home vigilOrganize any other public activity with purple ribbons, i.e., picnics, gatherings,
rallies, etc. Network with other organizations to encourage their participation with
purple ribbon activities and candelight
vigils ....YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL EQUAL PARENTS'
WEEK TO TIE YOUR PURPLE RIBBON!....KEEP A PURPLE RIBBON TIED OUTSIDE YOUR HOME TO SEND A MESSAGE EVERY DAY!

ADD A PURPLE RIBBON TO YOUR WEB
PAGE

Join in sending the message of Equal Parents' Week, and in sending the
ongoing "Message" and "Message Behind the Message" that each purple ribbon
sends. The purple ribbon is our symbol of the Equal Parents' Week ongoing
movement of solidarity advocating parental equality and advocating protection
of the civil rights of all family members by all levels of our government
and justice systems.